TALK Of The TOWN
Jackson, Mississippi became in the late seventies a major city in the world of gospel music with labels like J&B and Malaco having their headquarters in Jackson. There was a lot more going on than just these two powerhouses. Several smaller record labels and studios played a central part in putting Jackson, Miss on the (southern) gospel map. One of these labels and studios was Talk of the Town, located at 408 West Pascagoula Street. This was also the address for the Gospel Time label, which is most likely a subsidiary of Talk Of The Town.
The next door neighbors at number 406 was the Top Knotch studio and label. Although from the dates recordings were made at both the Talk of the Town and Top Knotch studio, we get the impression that Talk of the Town closed business around 1985, while the earliest releases on Top Knotch are from 1986. Same property, another entrance door? We'll probably never know.
We also don't know who the owner(s) was/were of Talk of the Town.
Nathaniel Baldwin is on the backcover of the album by The Gospel Truth
the name of the person to contact at Talk of the Town. Baldwin and
Reverend Haran Griffin are mentioned on many recordings made at Talk of
the Town either as producer, arranger or engineer. Haran Griffin appears
on several Talk of the Town and other (gospel) recordings made in
Jackson, Mississippi as a session musician playing piano, organ,
synthesizer and bass guitar. In 1967 he released the novelty song
'Looking For My Pig' on Malaco. In the 1970s he was a member of Natural
High and later on he became keyboard player for the Jackson
Southernaires.
Nathaniel Baldwin started playing drums for the Jackson Southernaires around 1973, a couple of years before the group joined Malaco. He stayed for about ten years behind the Jackson Southernaires' drum kit, while being involved in a lot of local gospel recordings.
There were several secular 45s released on Talk of the Town.
For Talk of the Town related blog entries: click here
All additional information on artists and discographies are highly appreciated.
45s in alphabetical order by artist:
| Elton Anderson | Tell Jesus | Talk of the Town 4535 | ||
| We Sure Need Him Now | ||||
| Christian Travelers of Hazlehurst, MS | My Mother Is Gone | Talk of the Town 772 | ||
| Don't Give Up | ||||
| Dynamic Holy Spiritualaires | He'll Be There Beyond The Sky | Talk of the Town ???? | ||
| Unknown | ||||
| The Joy Wonders | I Found Jesus | Talk of the Town 141 | ||
| Come On Back | ||||
| Leroy Russ | Going Back With Him | Talk of the Town 251 | ||
| Jesus Is Wating For Me | ||||
| Roy Smith & the Dixons | The Ballad Of Gibbs And Green (part 1) | Talk of the Town 1461 | ||
| The Ballad Of Gibbs And Green (part 2) | ||||
| Rev. S.E. Taylor (& Eddie Taylor) | Work Until My Day Is Done | Talk of the Town 1547 | ||
| Don't Want No Trouble On My Way Home |
Albums in alphabetical order by artist:
| The Dixons | Take A Message To Heaven | Talk of the Town LP1465 | 1979 | |
| re as: Malaco LP4365 | ||||
| Dynamic Holy Spiritualaires | God Will Make A Way | Talk of the Town LP7722 | 1976 | |
| Dynamic Holy Spiritualaires | Lord Remember Me | Talk of the Town LP8238 | 1978 | |
| re as: Gospel Time LP8238 | ||||
| The Gospel Truth | Reaching For Higher Grounds | Talk of the Town LP4213 | 1981 | |
| The Holy Mighty Crusaders | Look Where He Brought Me From | Talk of the Town LP4216 | 1981 | |
| Ray Magee | Lord Make Me Strong | Talk of the Town LP 248 |
Albums recorded at Talk of the Town by label:
| The Dixons | Sympathy Holiday | Continental RSR 1295 | ||
| Spencer Taylor & the Hi-Way QCs | New Birth | Gospel Time LP GB101 | 1985 | |
| re as: J&B LP 0101 ? | ||||
| The Mighty Wings | Somebody's Talking | Gospel Time LP 00101 | ||
| The Sensational Brown Brothers | Mother's Prayer | Gospel Time LP 00103 | 1981 | |
| The Ballard Brothers | Signs Of The Time | Gospel Time LP 00104 | ||
| The Dynamic Golden Stars | Witness | Gospel Time LP 00116 | ||
| The Gospel Crusaders | God Will Supply Your Needs | Gospel Time LP 00118 | ||
| The Mighty Robinson Brothers | Traveling Shoes | Gospel Time LP 00155 | ||
| Evangelist Boges & Children of God | Just Hold Out | Gospel Time LP BOGES 1001 | ||
| The Canton Spirituals | Mississippi Po Boy | J&B LP0069 | 1985 | |
| Voices of Faith | Working For The Lord | Jewel LP0176 | 1982 | |
| The Twilights | Kept On Searching | Royal LP0001 | 1984 | |
Contributors:
- John Glassburner
- Bob Laughton
- Howard Robinson